Three Of A Kind - 'Tell Me You're Mine'

A song written by Jack Ashford and Andrew 'Mike' Terry, released at least 3 times (to my nowledge) in slightly different variants by Lorraine Chandler, The Hesitations and Four Sonics - Plus One.  The second by The Hesitations is credited to Ashford & Lewis - Ermastine Lewis which was Lorraine Chandler's real name she used for writing credits.

Lorraine Chandler [1966] - Tell Me You're Mine [Giant #G-703]

Lorraine Chandler passed way in Jan 2020 aged 73, so I've turned this into a tribute to her work. 

'Tell Me You're Mine'. was her first single released on the flip to 'What Can I Do' on Jack Ashford's short-lived Detroit based Giant label which released only 5 singles in 1966 (not Jo Armstead's Chicago based label of the same name which started the following year).

Chandler/Lewis was predominantly a writer with her partner Jack Ashford but did release a few more singles on RCA Victor, the Giant 45 was picked up by RCA Victor for national distribution, followed by two further 45s 'She Don't Want You' / 'I Can't Hold On' in 1966 and 'Oh How I Need Your Love' / 'I Can't Change' in 1969.  

In recent years several unreleased tracks have been issued in the UK on 45, one being a demo for the 1967 James Bond movie title track 'You Only Live Twice', 'I Hear Music', 'Mend The Torn Pieces Of A My Heart', (recorded by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations in 1965 on Junior with 'I Can't Change') and 'Ease My Mind'.

There are also two other tracks on CD only 'Don't Leave Me Baby' (which has the same backing track as Willie Kendricks - 'What's That On Your Finger' a Pied Piper Production) released in 2018 on 'Jack Ashford - Just Productions Volume 2 [Kent #CDKEND 478]'. The other is 'Lost Without You', also recorded by Four Sonics on flip to featured track, which came out in 2015 on 'Pied Piper - Follow Your Soul 2015 [Kent #CDKEND 429]' CD.

It is suggested on Discogs that she also recorded with The Ebonies who released two 45s on Midwest in the early 60s, but I have not been able to confirm that.

As a footnote there was a single released on the Black Magic label in UK in 1975 with a version of Eddie Parker's classic 'Love You Baby' (which was a huge tune at the time and the only release on Ashford) with 'What Can I Do' on the flip.  Lorraine Chandler has categorically stated that this was NOT her singing 'Love You Baby'.

In addition the the songs she has recorded she was also involved in writing and producing many other great records, far too many to mention them all, but a few of the greats are Eddie Parker's superb deep soul cuts 'But If You Must Go', 'I Need A True Love' and 'Crying Clown' (NB this is the slower previously unreleased version), the NS dancer as Eddie Parker & The Sunlovers - 'You'll Never Make The Grade', c/w 'This Love Of Ours', Ray Gant & The Arabians - 'Don't Leave Me Baby' / 'I Need A True Love', 'I'll Never Forget You' recorded by The O'Jays and also The Metros, and NS favourite The Smith Brothers ‎- 'There Can Be A Better Way'. to name just a few.

The Hesitations [1967] - She Won't Come Back [Kapp #K-822]

A 1967 reworking of Chandler's 1996 outing with same tune but different lyrics. This is the lead track from their 1967 album 'Soul Superman'.  A fine album which has another different take on an absolute Northern Soul classic, and one of my all-time favourites, 'That's The Way Love Is' uses the same backing as Eddie Parker's ultra rare NS gem 'I'm Gone' which was one of only 3 releases on another Jack Ashford label Awake. 

It was repressed in 70s to meet NS demand but the original must now be valued near 5 figures (only 3 listed on Popsike and 2 of these were pretty 'beaten up'). It was also recorded by Billy Sha-Rae on Spectrum in 1971. A vocal and instrumental remake was done in 2011 by The Emerald City Soul Club in LA with Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme.

Four Sonics - Plus One [1968] - Tell Me You're Mine [Sepia #1]

The Four Sonics were Jay Johnson, Bill Frazier, Steve Gaston and Eddie Daniels with 'Plus One' being Joe Buckman who released a 45 on Sepia #3 in 1969 'Right Now' / 'Till The End Of Time'.

They released two 45s on Sport prior to the Sepia release, mainly sweet soul harmony tracks, the first being a cover of 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' a UK #1 hit for Dusty Springfield in 1966. They released a single on yet another short-lived Ashford lable Triple 'B' in 1969, followed by a release on JMC which sounds like early/mid 70s 'If It Wasn't For My Baby' (no date on listing but JMC-141 is dated 1976 which sounds about right, although some of the earlier numbers are from 80s.  From the sound, I would guess around 1973/74?  No clues on label as to label's location, except JMC-141 states Detroit, which i would expect as all their other material was released in Detroit.

The only other release on Jack Ashford's Sepia label is another ultra rarity Al Gardner - 'Sweet Baby' / 'I Can't Stand It' on Sepia #2 in 1968 which was also released on French label Googa-Mooga the same year which is a bit easier to find.

NS529 Lorraine Chandler [1966] - I Can't Hold On [RCA Victor 47-8980]

529 Lorraine Chandler [1966] - I Can't Hold On [RCA Victor 47-8980]

b/w:	She Don't Want You
Format:	45
Label:	RCA Victor
Cat No:	47-8980
Year:	1966
Value:	£100-£150

Motor City soul singer, songwriter, and producer Lorraine Chandler was born Ernastine Lewis and bred in Detroit, she met songwriter and producer Jack Ashford, previously known for his own percussion work with the Funk Brothers, and together they penned 'I'm Gone', a 1966 single for singer Eddie Parker an absolute monster sound on The Northern Soul scene around 1977 and still extremely rare on original Awake label.

Sadly Lorraine Chandler passed away on Jan 2nd 2020.

After collaborating on the O'Jays' 'I'll Never Forget You', Ashford convinced Chandler to sign on full-time with his fledgling Pied Piper Productions not only as a writer but also as a performer. Her first single, Ashford and Mike Terry's 'What Can I Do',  appeared on Jo Armstead's Giant label in 1966, becoming a smash in Detroit and Chicago. RCA then picked up the song for national distribution, soon followed by Chandler's sophomore effort, 'I Can't Hold' On. RCA also cut a production deal with Pied Piper that resulted in a series of Chandler-authored singles for the likes of the Cavaliers, the Metros, and Willie Kendrick. While in Chicago for an RCA-funded session, she also cut her third solo single, 1967's 'I Can't Change'. That same year, Chandler also recorded an unreleased version of the title theme to the James Bond film 'You Only Live Twice'. (Nancy Sinatra's rendition was instead present over the opening credits.)

OOTP (Out Of The Past)  Bootleg

In addition to the RCA deal, Pied Piper negotiated a similar production agreement with Kapp, forcing Chandler to focus her time and energy behind the scenes. For singer Freddy Butler, she penned the singles 'I Fell in Love' and 'There Was a Time', and for the Hesitations she authored the hits 'Soul Superman', 'Wait a Minute,' and 'Clap Your Hands'. In 1968 she and Ashford attempted to go it alone, founding their own Ashford label. The venture would yield just one single before going bankrupt, but what a single: Eddie Parker's 'Love You Baby' was a flop upon its initial release, but enjoyed new life in the 1970s thanks to its massive popularity among the DJs and clubgoers populating Britain's Northern soul revival scene. Chandler and Ashford then resumed their careers as writers and producers for hire -- the former's compositions of note include:

NOTE There was a UK release on Black Magic in 1975 credited to Lorraine Chandler - Love You Baby.  Lorraine has categorically denied that it is her singing.  She has posted messages as such on Soul Source forum and also on Discogs comments for the master release.

The Sepias 1968 'Tell Me You're Mine', 

Billy Sha-Rae 1969 'Do It', 

Sandra Richardson 1971 Buddah label release 'The Ring', 

Baby Washington 1973 'I've Got to Break Away', 

Ray Gant & the Arabian 'Don't Leave Me Baby'

This is a 70s reissue

When Ashford relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1976, Chandler was left in limbo, and did not resurface until 1980, when she co-produced Parker's 'The Old, the New, the Blues 'LP, even headlining a pair of duets. During the mid-'80s, British record exec Ady Croasdell unearthed a cache of unissued Pied Piper productions in the RCA vaults, among them Lorraine Chandler's 'You Only Live Twice' - when issued on vinyl, the song became a cult hit, inspiring the singer to cross the Atlantic to sing live at a Northern soul weekender. In the decades to follow, Chandler has been a staple of the Northern soul touring circuit, with her original singles reissued on CD to much renewed interest.

Taken from TheSoulGuy (site now defunct)

Ian Levine re-recording 90s

Lorraine Chandler [1966] - She Don't Want You [RCA Victor 47-8980]

Lorraine Chandler [1967] -  I Can't Change [RCA Victor 47-9349]

As I am no longer posting the full Northern Soul 500 I will include this track here which was positioned at 392.

Yvonne Baker & The Sensations [1965] - I Can't Change [Junior 1010]

Recorded by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations 2 years before Chandler's release.  It was re-ssued in 1967 on Junior 1071.

Lorraine Chandler [1967] -  Oh How I Need Your Love [RCA Victor 47-9349]

Lorraine Chandler [1966] - What Can I Do [Giant G-703]

Lorraine Chandler [1966] - Tell Me You're Mine [Giant G-703]

The Four Sonics - Plus One [1968] - Tell Me You're Mine [Sepia 1A]

The Four Sonics were Jay Johnson, Bill Frazier, Steve Gaston and EddieDaniels and the 'plus one'  for this release was apparently Joe Buckman.
They released 5 singles on various Detroit labels 2 on Sport, this one on Sepia and one one Triple B and JMC between 1967-69

The Hesitations [1967] - She Won't Come Back [Kapp K-822]

Wriiten by Lewis and Ashford.  Now I would guess that its is Lorraine Chandler using her birth name (Ermastine) Lewis.  This uses the same backing track as 'Tell Me You're Mine'.

Lorraine Chandler [1997] - You Live Only Twice [Kent 6T 13]

A previously unreleased track of her 'audition' for the theme song for the Bond film of the same name. It was issued by Kent for the 100 Club 18th Anniversary 45 in 1997.

Lorraine Chandler [2017] - Ease Your Mind [Kent 6T 33]

Another unreleased track discovered by Kent (Ady Croasdel)  It was released on the 100 Club 38th Anniversay 45 in 2017.

The Magnificents [2017] - I Can Fly [Kent 6T 33]

For 'completeness' I've included the flip side of the Kent 38th Anniversay single.  This track was originally recorded and released by Jack Ashford on his Hotel Sheet album as 'I Can Fly To your Open Arms' on Magic Disc in 1977.

Jack Ashford [1977] - I Can Fly To Your Open Arms [Magic Disc MD-116]

Lorraine Chandler [2014] - I Hear Music [Pied Piper 006]

A recent (2014) release on Kent off-shoot Pied Piper imprint targeted at publishing rare and previously unreleased Pied Piper productions.

Lorraine Chandler [2016] - Mend The Torn Pieces Of My Heart [Pied Piper 009]

Another recent (2016) Pied Piper release. This track was originally recorded by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations who also recorded the Northern Soul classic You Didn't Say A Word.

Yvonne Baker & The Sensations [1965] - Mend The Torn Pieces [Junior 1010]

Originally recorded in 1965 by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations.